Paul's appeal to the Corinthians to
follow his example in Chapter 9 to keep their
natural desires (lusts in check) and not give in to
previous lustful sins nor any wrong desire of our
natural flesh. He examples the Israelites experience
in the wilderness, where they gave in to deliberate
unbelief and rebellion against Moses and God. Giving
rise to overly lusting after food and water and
committing sexual sin and idolatry through not
coming to faith in God's care. Unless we mortify
(put to death) and keep in check our natural
desires, we shall experience eternal loss, and lose
a reward though not our salvation. This is a
necessary lifetime discipline. There should not be a
chapter break between chapter 9 and chapter 10.
The AV, "castaway" can be
translated rejected, disapproved or disqualified,
i.e. of the reward or prize, of the high calling.
Paul was totally abandoned to the will of God for
him, and kept himself for this calling. He ran for
the prize. In the Isthmian games to which he refers,
you had to train for 10 months or else you were not
allowed to compete. Even then only one person won
the prize. There is a promise in Chapter 10 that God
will not allow us to be tempted beyond our capacity
to fall, but will make a way of escape, for us to
choose.
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